Since the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war on February 24, about 8 million people in Ukraine have fled abroad, most of them went to Europe, accounting for about 20% of Ukraine's total population.
As Russia intensified its air strikes on Ukraine, Ukraine’s domestic infrastructure was severely damaged, and its power and heating capabilities were deteriorating. About 7 million people in Ukraine were displaced and became a reserve army of international refugees. Europe is generally worried that this winter, Europe may usher in a new "Ukrainian refugee tsunami".
Ukrainian refugee tsunami
Recently, many European countries bordering Ukraine have noticed a phenomenon: the number of Ukrainian refugees crossing the border is increasing. If the war continues like this, it may not be or , but will inevitably . The inevitable refugee tsunami, the third refugee tsunami after the spring and autumn, and perhaps not the last refugee tsunami.
Ukrainians fleeing on the road
European politicians' support for Ukraine is at least superficially genuine. Politicians from many countries have marked their political resumes with the heavy color of "risking their lives to visit Ukraine and support Ukraine on the ground".
Johnson, Macron, Scholz and other European dignitaries visit Ukraine
European people also support the acceptance of Ukrainian refugees. Their original idea was to entertain these Ukrainian "guests" from afar, so that Zelensky would have no worries, and lead Ukraine to compete with Russia.
Europeans hold demonstrations in solidarity with Ukraine
So, for the Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Europe, how did countries resettle them in the first place? The practice of
the non- EU country UK is quite representative.
The UK launched the Home for Ukraine programme, which was launched on March 18. Before the plan was launched, the then Prime Minister Johnson was criticized for delaying and procrastinating in accepting Ukrainian refugees, and he reluctantly launched the plan under pressure.
Once, Johnson's messy blond hair was flying wantonly in the wind on the streets of war-torn Kyiv . In front of Ukrainian President Zelensky, he vowed to firmly support Ukraine until victory. But when it came time for him to take in Ukrainian refugees, he was a little bit. . . . . .
Former British Prime Minister Johnson
This plan is specifically like this.
For enthusiastic British families willing to take in Ukrainian refugees, the government will provide landlords with a £350 monthly "thank you payment". British non-government organizations, including charitable organizations, NGOs, , and community organizations, have also taken active actions, building groups on various social platforms such as Facebook, and actively helping Ukrainian refugees communicate and contact with British landlords. As long as the two parties are successfully matched, Refugees can obtain visas to enter the country, and many people have been resettled, but it is still a drop in the bucket for the increasing number of Ukrainian refugees.
Ukrainian refugees living in British families
Later, many families felt that the "thank you money" given by the government was too little, so some MPs proposed to increase the "thank you money" to 700 pounds. This proposal has been shelved since October. Still no one cares about it. Later, many non-governmental organizations who worried that Ukrainian refugees would be evicted by their landlords began to make up for the insufficient "thank you money" out of their own pockets.
The British government also promised to provide 10,500 pounds of annual assistance to each Ukrainian refugee participating in the plan. Refugees can stay in the UK for three years. During their stay, they can work, enjoy public services and state benefits, and child refugees can attend local schools. But in the end, the cash was not very good, and even the United Nations Refugee Agency couldn't stand it anymore.
In a word, the "Give Ukrainians a Home" plan shifted most of the responsibility for accepting refugees to British NGOs and British people, and the government made a fuss about it.
EU countries have followed a similar approach to the UK, with similar schemes for Ukrainian refugees to be housed in private families.
Of course each country has its own characteristics.
Poland accepts Ukrainian refugees
The Bulgarian government once housed 35,000 Ukrainian refugees in luxury resort hotels in the country. Ireland is also using about a quarter of the country's hotels to house Ukrainian refugees. The Polish government opened reception centers and stockpiled hygiene supplies and food. Slovakia launched a contingency plan, sending government personnel around to resettle Ukrainian refugees.
To tell the truth, people in European countries are more active in resettling Ukrainian refugees and have paid more.
Ukrainian refugees resettled in Germany
However, the governments and people of various countries soon fell into assistance fatigue, the initial hospitality gradually cooled down, and the rejection of Ukrainian refugees became increasingly serious. What happened to
?
Russia-Uzbekistan conflicts have been protracted, with no end in sight. More and more refugees are pouring in, and the public resources of European countries are excessively consumed.
Governments are feeling the financial pressure.
As early as September, Germany announced that after accepting about 1 million Ukrainian refugees, the German states have reached their limit and it is difficult to accept new refugees.
On November 1, Austria changed its policy of offering free train travel to all Ukrainians to only offer it to first-time arrivals in the country.
A part of the resettlement projects of the "Give Ukrainians a Home" program in the UK is about to expire, and there is no clear succession arrangement. It is estimated that one third of the refugees participating in the project will soon become homeless.
Even Poland, a favorite in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, recently changed its rules to require any Ukrainian staying in the country for more than 120 days to pay part of the accommodation costs.
. . . . . . There are also splits within the
government.
In Germany, Rolf Mitzenich, chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, believes that talks with Putin should not be ruled out outright and criticized the foreign ministry for not actively seeking a diplomatic solution. The far-right party "Alternative Party" has never concealed its pro-Russian tendencies, and its support rate in opinion polls has steadily increased.
Alternative for Germany
The two leaders of the Alternative for Germany Party, Alexander Golan (left) and Alice Weidel (right)
In France, French-right Leader Marina Le Pen advocates the lifting of sanctions against Russia , on the grounds that the sanctions would hurt France more. Le Pen is also disgusted by the government's massive support for Ukraine.
In Italy, as opinion polls continue to see low support for European arms aid to Ukraine, support within the government for continuing to send weapons to Ukraine has also dropped to a freezing point.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is known as the most dangerous woman in France, and she is close to Russia
The troika of the European Union is like this, and other small European countries are similar.
Even America, the "big brother" in Europe, has changed, and the anti-Ukrainian sentiment in the Republican has intensified. The new Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy once said that after the Republicans control the House of Representatives, the United States will not give Ukraine another penny. Republicans now control the House of Representatives.
The people can't support it anymore.
Affected by the energy crisis and high inflation, all aspects of European people's lives have been severely impacted, life has become increasingly difficult, incomes are constantly decreasing, and bills are high. Because of this war, the standard of living of the European people has almost dropped to the lowest point in decades. Even himself is in such a difficult situation, how can he still have the energy to receive Ukrainian "guests" from afar.
The intensifying energy crisis in Europe
The performance of some Ukrainian refugees has also aroused the resentment of the European "masters".
Ukrainians and Russians belong to Slavs , an out-and-out fighting nation. Ukrainian refugees have repeatedly clashed with locals, and the security situation in European countries has deteriorated. Take Sweden as an example. After accepting more than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, SwedenCrimes such as robbery and sexual violence in major cities have soared exponentially, turning this Nordic paradise into a criminal paradise with a very high crime rate.
Ukraine has a lot of cultural differences with many European countries. Families hosting Ukrainian refugees are also mired in cultural distress. Tell me something even weirder. In the UK, a Ukrainian female refugee hooked up with the male host, and she succeeded in taking the position, but the hostess was kicked out. Compared with
Western European and Nordic countries, the standard of living in Ukraine is very different. Many refugees eat and drink locally and are unwilling to go out to work. They even have the idea of never returning to Ukraine and taking root there.
So, under the joint action of various factors, the following things happened.
Demonstrations demanding the deportation of refugees took place in various European countries, even Poland, the most hospitable host.
Demonstrations broke out in Europe, demanding to stop aiding weapons to Ukraine, holding peace talks
Demonstrations demanding to stop military aid to Ukraine also followed one after another. On October 5th, in the Italian capital Rome , trade unions, several religious associations and peace organizations held the largest peace rally since the outbreak of the Russo-Ukraine War. It is said that more than 100,000 people participated. ", "Peace" banners, calling for peace negotiations to end the Russo-Ukrainian war, and of course, to send these refugees home as soon as possible.
Displaced Ukrainians
The "host" is hospitable and the "guest" is moved and happy.
The reason is that the "master" is too naive, thinking that he can fill a bottomless pit. The "guest" is too naive, not realizing that as long as he affects the interests of the "master" one day, he will be ruthlessly kicked out by the "master".
Ukrainian streets uglify the portrait of Putin
Ukrainian refugees are very sad, unable to return to their homes, wandering abroad, suffering all kinds of humiliation, most of them are now eager to go home as soon as possible. The European people are also very helpless. They are sincerely hospitable and have paid a lot of sacrifices. In the end, they can only be dishonorable. Who is
the happiest? "Big Brother" America! The leader of the United States has not known how many times he has announced with great grandeur, to aid Ukraine, with a wave of his hand, tens of billions of dollars. Then, round and round, the money found its way back into the hands of American arms dealers.
Zelensky's visit to the United States received a passionate welcome
The spokesperson of the United States in Europe is also very happy. After all, when the eldest brother is happy, they are also happy.
In the end, we found that American taxpayers’ money was squandered, an unknown number of people died on the Russian-Ukrainian battlefield, an unknown number of refugees were produced in Ukraine, and Europe was repeatedly ravaged by the refugee crisis.
In this war, there are really few winners, so few that there are only such a small number of people, who are still far away on the other side of the ocean.
